Beginner`s guide.xstitch.indd

Get started today xxx
With everything you need in your cross stitching
starter kit you can start right away!
Gather your materials
Fabric
Aida and evenweave are the main
fabrics used in cross stitching.
Evenweave is softer than aida,
making it the best choice for soft
furnishings. As aida is the easiest to
learn on we’ve chosen this for your
starter kit. Aida is made up of blocks
of woven thread and to make a
whole cross stitch you stitch through
the holes between these blocks as
you can see in the diagrams over
the page. There are more advanced
stitches called Fractionals, which
are partial crosses stitched into the
blocks of thread, but we’ll guide you
through these when you’ve
mastered the basics.
To estimate the amount of fabric
you’ll need for a project, use the
information at the bottom of the key.
Add 10cms to the finished size
which will allow enough fabric to
frame your finished picture. Why not
make your butterfly into a pretty card
for a friend?
Evenweave and aida are
available in a variety of colours and
in various ‘holes per inch’ or HPI.
This refers to the number of
evenweave threads or blocks of aida
making up the structure. For
example 14HPI is the most widely
used – it has 14 aida blocks and
therefore 14 stitches per inch. The
lower the HPI the bigger the cross
stitch. We’ve chosen 14HPI to get
you started.
Stranded cotton
This is available in a huge variety of
colours and shades and is sold in
skeins. Each thread is made up of
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six individual strands twisted
together. You will be using two
strands to stitch your butterfly.
Threads from the leading
manufacturers are washable.
Needles
Tapestry needles are best for cross
stitching as they have a blunt end
and a large eye. The needle in your
kit is a size 24 which is ideal for
14HPI aida. Many stitchers use
gold-plated needles as they pass
smoothly through the fabric and are
great if you have a nickel allergy.
As you become more
experienced and want to experiment
a bit more, you’ll start using an
embroidery needle for backstitch
and French knots. These have a
sharper point making it easier for
stitches that need to pierce the
fabric. See our Products page for a
fab needle threader that will save
you time and a lot of frustration.
suffer from neck pain or only have
the use of one hand and by gently
stretching and holding your fabric,
they make it easier to stitch. If you
find a smaller hoop or frame more
comfortable you can still use this for
larger projects, simply move it
around as you finish each section.
5
When you’re sorting your
threads, why not thread several
needles with different colours and
store them on a strip of spare fabric
alongside your work.
To prevent your thread from
tangling while you’re stitching, let
your needle hang loosely every so
often. This will allow your thread to
unwind gently.
Thread sorter
Sorting your threads before you start
stitching will save you from having to
hunt around for the correct thread
colour when you need it. You can
make a sorter yourself. Simply
punch a row of holes along the edge
of a strip of card, then label each
hole with the thread code listed in
your project’s key. Loosely knot
each thread into the corresponding
hole and you’re all sorted to start.
Frames and hoops
These come in a variety of sizes and
shapes and are great for keeping
your fabric taut enabling you to
stitch more evenly. You can buy
especially adapted frames if you
tips for starters
Use a highlighter pen to mark
off the squares on your chart as you
stitch. This will help you to find your
place, should you be distracted or
ready for the next time you stitch.
A copy holder is great for
holding your chart and good for your
posture too, as you don't have to
look down at your chart. The ruler is
handy for keeping your place.
If you have difficulty seeing the
holes in the fabric, use a magnifier.
There are many different types
and strengths available from free
standing to clip-on ones.
R
eading your chart
It’s best to start reading your chart
from the centre – we’ve marked
this for you. As you see the chart
is printed on a grid. Each square
stands for one cross stitch and
contains a symbol which represents
a thread colour. The key tells you
what colour the symbols relate too.
R
R
eading your key
The key gives you the information you need. They will normally list
the three main thread suppliers and thread codes for the colours you’ll
need – always keep to the same thread manufacturer in a project as
colours vary slightly. The key will have a column for all the symbols that
appear in your chart and the colours they represent. Other information
will include the types of stitches used and the number of strands for
each stitch. This will normally be two for the cross stitch and one for any
backstitch. Your key will also tell you the size of your finished design.
eady to start stitching
Find the centre of your chart and note the colour of the central stitch.
Take some thread in that colour and cut a length about 40cm (16in).
Hold the thread in one hand and gently draw a single strand upwards and out.
Repeat so that you now have your two strands ready for stitching.
Combine the strands and thread your needle.
Next find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half and then in quarters. Unfold.
The centre will be where the fold lines cross. This is where you’ll make your first stitch.
Make a knot at the end of your thread – this is called a
waste knot as you’re going to snip it off at the end. Take
your needle down through the fabric from front to back at
a point approximately 1.5in from your starting stitch at the
centre of your fabric. Bring the needle back up through
the bottom left-hand hole of your first stitch as shown in
the diagram. Your knot will be on the front of your fabric,
but don’t worry about this as you will stitch towards it
anchoring down your thread. You will then be able to snip
off the knot and your thread will be firmly anchored.
Having brought your needle up through 1 take it back
down through 2 and bring the point of the needle up
through 3 exactly as in the diagram. Finish your first
cross stitch by taking your needle down through 4 to
make the perfect x shape.
In preparation for your next stitch bring the point of
your needle back up through 3 then repeat the process
for the next stitch.
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For quicker results, particularly for blocks of colour, check
on your chart and count how many stitches you need.
Stitch the first half of the stitches along the row. Simply
follow the diagram until you have stitched the required
number of half stitches for your design.
When you’ve stitched the required number of half stitches
bring your needle point up through 7 then begin to stitch
backwards along the row, inserting your needle at 8 as
shown, to complete your stitches.
To finish off neatly, take your needle to the back of your
fabric and anchor it by passing it under a few stitches.
Snip your thread close to your aida for a neat finish.
Back stitch
Back stitch adds an outline to your work and is used
to create detail and definition. It’s normally done with a
single thread once you’ve finished all the cross stitching.
It’s not difficult to do and really brings your stitching to life.
The stitches are worked backwards over a single block
of aida as you can see in the diagram. Simply bring your
needle up at 1 and down at 2 . Bringing it up again at
3 and down at 1 . It’s easy to create angles by taking
your stitch across the diagonal of the aida block as shown
in the diagram.
T
op tips for looking after your stitching
Keep your stitching protected
and free from dust by storing it in a
white pillow case.
Store your stitching away from
direct sunlight as it will fade the
threads and discolour the fabric.
Wash your stitching when
you’ve finished so that it looks at its
best ready for framing.
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Threads from the major
manufacturers are washable but
follow the instructions on the labels.
Hand wash in a bleach-free
detergent suitable for delicate
fabrics and rinse in warm water.
If your project includes beads
add these after you’ve washed your
work as the colour might run.
Place your stitching on a clean
towel and gently ease the fabric into
shape. Dry flat.
To iron your stitching place it
on a dry white towel face down and
iron on a cool setting on the reverse.
Store flat or rolled with the
stitches outwards. This prevents
crease marks and crushed stitches.
Some fancy bits xxx
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, you can move
on to learn fractionals and French knots
Fractionals
Fractional stitches are found in more advanced projects, so you won’t be needing them for your starter kit. They
can be identified on a chart by a smaller version of a symbol in the corner of a single square.
To create a quarter stitch simply bring your
needle up at 1 and instead of taking your
stitch across the aida block as before, take it
half way across, piercing the aida block at 2 .
To create a three quarter stitch. Start with a
quarter stitch as before, bringing your needle
up at 3 and then down through the hole 4
at the top of the aida block diagonally opposite.
French knots
Most French knots are made using one thread and are used for details such as eyes. You’ll find them marked on
your chart with a circle and as with fractionals, after a bit of practise, you’ll soon be stitching them perfectly.
Bring the thread through the fabric and hold it
taught between your left thumb and forefinger.
The secret of a good French knot is to keep
the thread as taut as you can. Wrap the taut
thread around the needle twice.
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Push the needle halfway through the fabric
just next to the first hole – not through the
same hole. Slide the wrapped thread down the
needle until it rests on the fabric. Gently push
the needle right through to tighten the knot.